Read our user comments about the HTC Desire S

Comments

Please wait while we process your request

Please wait while we retrieve the user's information

Bio

Your bio is currently empty. Now is a great time to fill in your profile.

This profile is private.

This profile is only shared with friends.

This profile is under review.

We were unable to request friendship with this user.

We were unable to request friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

Your friendship request has been sent to this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

You are no longer friends with this user.

We were unable to ignore this user.

We were unable to ignore this user. Are you logged in?

This user is now ignored.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user. Are you logged in?

This user is no longer ignored.

pluck_user_mp-abuse_too_long_err

Name withheld

Coe62

6:04 PM on 25 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Coe62. Show Details Hide Details

So no extended batteries then with the new back design ?? 1450Mha is too little for power users

Score:

Name withheld

mudslide

6:25 PM on 25 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore mudslide. Show Details Hide Details

What I'd like to know is how the display of Desire S compare to the one in Incredible S?

Score:

Name withheld

AHYL88

6:28 PM on 25 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore AHYL88. Show Details Hide Details

Ooh that's a surprise; I thought this would come with 2.3 Gingerbread. It doesn't seem so greatly different to say the Incredible or the Desire HD; except for its size they are nearly all the same. Choice is certainly gonna be tricky nowadays as the original Desire is getting cheaper and other new powerhouse phones like the Atrix and Optimus 2X are coming soon. Particularly the giant-killing (on paper and hopefully price) ZTE Skate.

Score:

Name withheld

myst

6:34 PM on 25 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore myst. Show Details Hide Details

Does this device has the HTCsense.com website feature with it?

Score:

Name withheld

FrancisPhillips

7:02 PM on 25 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore FrancisPhillips. Show Details Hide Details

Android 2.2?? All the advance publicity said 2.3. I also note that the HTC website now classes all its new phones as just running Android whereas slightly older phones state the version. Are they having problems with 2.3??

I know its a different size phone but in pure spec terms, including processor, this phone doesnt seem to have gained anything over the Desire HD which was launched 6 months ago.

Score:

Name withheld

Zero 1

7:05 PM on 25 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Zero 1. Show Details Hide Details

Why does HTC keep making same phones and then re-naming it.... yawn!!!! Btw before anything trying to bash me, I don't use iphone either.

Score:

Name withheld

rav

12:25 AM on 26 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore rav. Show Details Hide Details

2.3 is supposed to be coming for a lot of HTC phones around June. I think the Desire/HD/S/Incredible should all be getting it.

Score:

Name withheld

darkspark88

12:47 AM on 26 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore darkspark88. Show Details Hide Details

It's called refinement. They could reinvent the wheel, but how do you update a fantastic product? You make it a little bit better. It's testament to the brilliant design team that few changes need to be made. Radical changes would lead to a new HTC series. (Note how they sell more than just one type of phone?)

I like the way they decided to take the excellent touch based keys of the wildfire and put them on the desire. I used a desire and did not get on well with the physical buttons. They were incredibly stiff and slow to navigate with.

Roll on HTC.

Score:

Name withheld

Tony Young

11:41 AM on 26 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Tony Young. Show Details Hide Details

I had the original Desire until I left it in a million pieces on the A1009 (don't ask).

I've used HTC phones since the original Touch Dual (my current 'replacement with Win6 - yuk!) and including the original HD.

I have a Desire S on pre-order with Orange and having read your review I'm not minding waiting for dual-core as I'm not a gamer (apart from Angry Birds and Flight Control).

It's clear that there are some useful improvements, even though it must have been tough to do that AND reduce the price of the original. Strange that 2.3 isn't present, but can't wait to get the new one, aly body and all!

Score:

Name withheld

Randy

7:41 PM on 26 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Randy. Show Details Hide Details

Sorry, but why do Nokia C2-01 deserve a video review and this phone don't?

Score:

Name withheld

Ed

8:37 PM on 26 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Ed. Show Details Hide Details

@Randy: Dont worry there's one coming.

Score:

Name withheld

Philip Angell

9:58 PM on 27 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Philip Angell. Show Details Hide Details

Can I ask what the sound quality is like using a pair of in-ear monitors? I have an HTC Hero at the moment which is so awful (very loud background hiss) that I can't use it at all to listen to music on - I've got a Sansa Clip + for that. I'd really like to get rid of the extra gadget though (even if it is tiny). I previously had a Nokia E52 which sounded fantastic, but its firmware was so full of problems that it put me right off Nokias.

Score:

Name withheld

Michael McG

8:05 AM on 28 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Michael McG. Show Details Hide Details

what i'd like to see is a comparison of this to last years HTC desire.. i have the desire and from this review there wouldnt seem to be a compelling reason to upgrade..

Score:

Name withheld

Jayboy

11:50 AM on 28 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Jayboy. Show Details Hide Details

Seems like a good phone but dont think id upgrade if i already had a Desire. Maybe the Incredible S would be the better option.. Oh and i agree about not that much improvement with these phones. Why didn't HTC use dual core CPU and NFC for these? Surely the original Desire, HD and Z would have kept people happy for a few more weeks/months till the dual core models roll out?

Score:

Name withheld

Wedge

4:31 PM on 28 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Wedge. Show Details Hide Details

I'm glad this isn't dual core. The price of the Galaxy S II is pretty steep in comparison. Under £400 for a unibody phone with great build quality and screen is a relative bargain, not to mention the cost of the iPhone 4 which is also single core.

Score:

Name withheld

Ed

4:42 PM on 28 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Ed. Show Details Hide Details

@Philip79: Sound quality is fine with no obvious hiss like you mention. It's not the most refined performance as compared to a dedicated mp3 player but is a perfectly satisfactory listen.

@Michael McG: Better screen, faster graphics processor for smoother interface and better looking 3D games, slightly better battery life.

@JayBoy: There's an argument for making the new Desire a more convincing upgrade to the original but in terms of delivering what the market needs/wants, the Desire S does pretty well. After all, as the Desire has proved, we're already at the point where day to day performance is perfectly adequate. The S simply tweaks things and is cheaper. Sounds good to me.

Score:

Name withheld

StephenW

7:14 PM on 28 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore StephenW. Show Details Hide Details

I wondered if anyone had any news about the release of the Desire S with Three? I know 'April' was suggested on a previous article...but anything firmer than that? Also - anyone have any opinions on what the price is likely to be? Will they up the prices they're charging for a standard Desire, or will they simply replace it with the upgrade and keep the price the same? No idea how phone companies go about dealing with this sort of incremental upgrade.

Score:

Name withheld

David Walker

9:18 PM on 28 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore David Walker. Show Details Hide Details

How come CNet's review model had Android 2.3?

Score:

Name withheld

DanielNB

9:54 AM on 29 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore DanielNB. Show Details Hide Details

The review for the Incredible S lacks a specs page so could I ask what the headline differences between the Desire S and Incredible S are please?
Thanks

Score:

Name withheld

Bluepork

10:16 AM on 29 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Bluepork. Show Details Hide Details

I have the original Desire, and I have also noticed the background hiss on the audio when listening with headphones. Not bad enough to make me carry another device for music, but slightly annoying anyway.

For those wondering about dual core goodies, rumours from other sites are that HTC will have some out later in the year.

Score:

Name withheld

Ed

10:21 AM on 29 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Ed. Show Details Hide Details

@David Walker: Because I misread an email and was lead to believe it was 2.2. With HTC having modified things so much I didn't have cause to double check. Our unit is in fact 2.3.3 as well. I shall update the review accordingly. Many apologies - a careless mistake.

@DanielNB: I shall add a specs page. Headline differences: Incredible has a larger 4in screen, an 8megapixel camera with dual flash, funky twisting touch buttons and that's about it, aside from the design. It's also more expensive of course.

Score:

Name withheld

Ed

10:23 AM on 29 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Ed. Show Details Hide Details

@DanielNB: Oh, and does in fact run Android 2.2 currently.

Score:

Name withheld

Ed

11:20 AM on 29 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Ed. Show Details Hide Details

@All: I've updated the article to reflect our further thoughts on battery life as well as correct the Android version. I've also added more pictures. A video review will be shot tomorrow so hopefully should be up on Thursday.

I've also added a specs table to the Incredible S review.

Score:

Name withheld

FrancisPhillips

8:36 PM on 29 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore FrancisPhillips. Show Details Hide Details

Does this phone have noise cancelling microphones as I wonder what the 2 holes are in the plastic cover that houses the camera. Also you say it has NFC support or are you talking about Andoid 2.3.3 generically and not about this phone?

Score:

Name withheld

Alexa08

11:59 AM on 30 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Alexa08. Show Details Hide Details

@StevenW: I was told that the phone would be available on three either this or next weekend, but this comes from an instore drone so no idea if that's official or not.

Score:

Name withheld

Edammer

1:31 PM on 30 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Edammer. Show Details Hide Details

The Specs page still says 2.2.

Score:

Name withheld

StephenW

8:30 PM on 30 March, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore StephenW. Show Details Hide Details

@Alex - thanks very much, kind of you!

Score:

Name withheld

LED light FTW

11:26 AM on 15 April, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore LED light FTW. Show Details Hide Details

It has an LED notification light!!!! - therefore it is a cool phone. No argument.

Score:

Name withheld

SundanceKid

4:38 PM on 15 April, 2011

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore SundanceKid. Show Details Hide Details

I just can't decide what phone to get! I know I want an Android and the idea of a keyboard is appealing but I want a phone with a min 1ghz because the Desire Z is only 800mhz. Do i wait to see what the xeria pro or neo are like? or just go for the Desire S or Z.

I think the phones with screens bigger then 4inch's are just silly, I have big hands but the likes of the desire HD, xperia just feel uncomfortable.

Have all these companies forgotten about battery life?! whats the point in having a fancy phone if it last only for day with medium use.

Score:

Please wait while we file your abuse report.

We're sorry. We were unable to report abuse at this time.

We limit the number of reactions an individual user can submit over a given period for quality reasons. You have currently reached that limit. Please try resubmitting your abuse report again later.

Comment is too long. Enter 500 characters or less.

Type Comment
(optional)

Please wait while we send the email.

You may send this to 5 e-mail addresses. Please separate each address with a space.

We're sorry, but the item you are sending has been removed from the site.

We're sorry. We were unable to send the email at this time.

Please specify a recipient.

You can only send messages to 5 addresses at a time.

The address "" is not valid.

Subject

Please specify a subject.

Comment
(optional) Send Cancel

Score
vote upvotes up
vote downvotes down

More Photos

The HTC Desire S certainly isn't the flag bearer for a new era in super fast smartphones, with it lacking the headline dual-core processor. However, it is a well crafted, elegant, easy to use, fast and very capable smartphone that thanks to HTC's tweaks stands it apart from the Android crowd. Where it actually falls down is on a couple of mundane extras, namely the lack of a physical button for the camera, the quality of said camera and the lack of an HDMI output. Thankfully, these omissions are made up for in its price, which while not bargain basement is very competitive. Read full review

Overall

8/10

User Rating

7/10

By Edward Chester
Reviewed 25 March 2011
Updated 03 November 2011

Price as reviewed

£381.98

Awards

HTC Desire S details

Design: 8/10
Features: 7/10
Performance: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Overall: 8/10

Pros & Cons

Pros

Elegant design
Brilliant screen
Well built
Easy to use

Cons

No camera shutter button
Not dual core
Camera fairly poor

Manufacturer

HTC

Comments on HTC Desire S

Overall

User Rating

Price as reviewed

Comments

Comments

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Awards

HTC Desire S details

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Price as reviewed

Manufacturer

Mobile Phone round-ups

TrustedReviews newsletter

Three of the best High end Mobile Phones